036: Nathan Pyle – Recycle Bins and a Lesson In Privilege

The text of this comic first appeared as an article on Buzzfeed by Nathan Pyle.

The original article already has images that accompany the text. In fact, it even has a video version. When I came across the article, I liked it a lot. It’s a lesson in empathy and outrospection.

I also wasn’t convinced at first that this article and it’s message needed to be repeated. I thought it was very good as it is. However, I changed my mind when I made a trip to Cambodia.

It was not my first time in a ‘third world’ country. Though this country was poorer than the other ‘third world’ nations that I had visited before. It was an eye opener for me.

Consider this example. If you earn $100 a day, the norm in a ‘first world’ country, people who earn $10 or $1 a day all look ‘poor’ to you. If you earn $1 a day, you can see that the $10 a day people are poor but still surviving better than you, and the $100 a day people are seemingly the mega rich. It’s all about perspective.

I could write and describe what I saw in Cambodia, but I find it to be futile. Even thinking, reading and talking about this might not truly change your perspective or empathy. But a day spent walking amoung those $1 a day people did the trick for me.

I would encourage everyone to think about and discuss poverty and privilege. That is why I believe the message in the original Buzzfeed post should be reiterated and repeated to make sure people get the message. But  more so I would urge you all to move out of your comfort zone and put yourselves in someone else’s shoes.

Yes, this website is about business, entrepreneurship and success. And within these three, lies a lot of room for empathy.

If you have a story about empathy, let me know in the comments below. As usual, don’t forget to subscribe.